IP Library Granted Patent US 12,537,528
Granted Patent B2
US 12,537,528 · App. 18/432,610 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Active capacitive shield for programmable logic array

Inventor: Francois Tailliet (Fuveau, FR)
Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
H03K19/1772
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,537,528
App. No.
18/432,610
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a programmable logic array circuit is provided. In some embodiments, the programmable logic array circuit comprises an AND plane comprising a plurality of groups of product term straps, an OR plane comprising a plurality of output lines, a first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines in the AND plane, and a second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines in the OR plane. Each of the plurality of groups of product term straps is adjacent to only one corresponding one of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines. Each of the plurality of output lines is adjacent to only one corresponding one of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines.

Claims (65)

1 . A programmable logic array circuit comprising:

an AND plane comprising a plurality of groups of product term straps;

an OR plane comprising a plurality of output lines;

a first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines in the AND plane; and

a second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines in the OR plane;

wherein each of the plurality of groups of product term straps is adjacent to only one corresponding one of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines;

wherein each of the plurality of output lines is adjacent to only one corresponding one of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines;

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from a drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

2 . The programmable logic array circuit of claim 1 , wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on all of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on all of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

3 . The programmable logic array circuit of claim 1 , wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on corresponding ones of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on corresponding ones of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

4 . The programmable logic array circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:

an AND plane clock; and

an OR plane clock;

wherein the voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage by the AND plane clock; and

wherein the voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage by the OR plane clock.

5 . The programmable logic array circuit of claim 4 , further comprising:

first and second inverters in series between the AND plane clock and the one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines driven from zero volts to the drive voltage to introduce a phase shift between the AND plane clock and the voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines; and

third and fourth inverters in series between the OR plane clock and the one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines driven from zero volts to the drive voltage to introduce a phase shift between the OR plane clock and the voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines.

6 . The programmable logic array circuit of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length substantially equal to a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of groups of product term straps; and

wherein each of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length substantially equal to a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of output lines.

7 . The programmable logic array circuit of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length that is less than half a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of groups of product term straps; and

wherein each of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length that is less than half a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of output lines.

8 . A method of providing capacitive shielding to a programmable logic array (PLA) circuit, the method comprising:

positioning each of a plurality of groups of product term straps of an AND plane of the PLA circuit adjacent to only one corresponding one of a first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines;

positioning each of a plurality of output lines of an OR plane of the PLA circuit adjacent to only one corresponding one of a second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines;

in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from a drive voltage to zero volts, driving a voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, driving a voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines from zero volts to the drive voltage.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on all of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on all of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on corresponding ones of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on corresponding ones of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage by an AND plane clock of the PLA circuit; and

wherein the voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage by an OR plane clock of the PLA circuit.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

inserting first and second inverters in series between the AND plane clock and the one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines driven from zero volts to the drive voltage to introduce a phase shift between the AND plane clock and the voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines; and

inserting third and fourth inverters in series between the OR plane clock and the one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines driven from zero volts to the drive voltage to introduce a phase shift between the OR plane clock and the voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length substantially equal to a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of groups of product term straps; and

wherein each of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length substantially equal to a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of output lines.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length that is less than half a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of groups of product term straps; and

wherein each of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines has a length that is less than half a length of a corresponding one of the plurality of output lines.

15 . An integrated circuit comprising:

a first plurality of signal lines; and

a first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines;

wherein each of the first plurality of signal lines is adjacent to only one corresponding one of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the first plurality of signal lines falling from a drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

16 . The integrated circuit of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second plurality of signal lines; and

a second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines;

wherein each of the second plurality of signal lines is adjacent to only one corresponding one of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the second plurality of signal lines falling from a drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

17 . The integrated circuit of claim 16 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises a programmable logic array (PLA) circuit;

wherein the first plurality of signal lines comprises a plurality of groups of product term straps of an AND plane of the PLA circuit; and

wherein the second plurality of signal lines comprises a plurality of output lines of an OR plane of the PLA circuit.

18 . The integrated circuit of claim 17 , wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on all of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on all of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

19 . The integrated circuit of claim 17 , wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of groups of product term straps falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on corresponding ones of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage; and

wherein, in response to a voltage on one or more of the plurality of output lines falling from the drive voltage to zero volts, a voltage on corresponding ones of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage.

20 . The integrated circuit of claim 17 , further comprising:

an AND plane clock; and

an OR plane clock;

wherein the voltage on one or more of the first plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage by the AND plane clock; and

wherein the voltage on one or more of the second plurality of dynamically driven shield lines is driven from zero volts to the drive voltage by the OR plane clock.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2024
From: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
To: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
Reel/Frame 068113/0432 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2024
From: TAILLIET, FRANCOIS
To: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
Reel/Frame 066694/0381 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250253852A1 · Aug 7, 2025
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